Mattress covering



Aug. 10, 1943. M. M. CUNNINGHAM A 2,326,441

MATTRESS covERING Filed Aug. 3, 1940 0 lNvENroK 771er( 11 [haran Can ning /rm BY 43( (30144 /W- mfr* Patented Aug. 1o, 194e UNITED STATE MATTRESS COVERING Marion Morgan Cunningham, South Bend, Ind., assigner to Mshawaka Rubber and Woolen Manufacturing Company, Mishawaka, Ind., a corporation ot Indiana Application August 3, 1940, Seriali No. 350,596

This invention relates to the construction of mattresses, cushions and similar articles, and more particularly to the anchoring of coverings to mattresses having rubber'body portions.

In ordinary mattresses, the covering'material is usually secured to the body of the mattress by tufting. This prevents the cover from slipping and presenting a poor appearance. In the absence of t'ufting, it -is desirable to provide some other method of positively anchoring the cover to the mattress.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved type of construction in which the covering over a rubber mattress or cushion is firmly secured in place.

It is another object to provide a rubber mattress construction in which the covering material is taut and is anchored to the rubber surface of the mattress in this condition. v

.It is a further object to provide a rubber mattress construction wherein the covering material may be easily and accurately aligned on the mattress.

It is another object to provide a rubber mattress construction in which the cover may be stitched together and secured to the body portion in a single operation.

These and other objects not specifically enumerated are contemplated for this invention, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a rubber mattress embodying the present invention with the covering partly removed;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of an inner spring mattress embodying the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modication of the invention;

Figure 4 .is a fragmentary vertical section of another modification;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the tape used in the modification shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is another fragmentary perspective view of the tape shown in Figure 5; and

Figure I is an enlarged perspective view of the tape shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing, the body portion I0 of the mattress shown in Figure 1 is made of rubber, such as foam sponge rubber or the like.' which is provided with openings II for ventilation and construction purposes. Strips of tape I2 and I3, made of fabric or other suitable mate-- rial, are secured to the side wall I4 of the mattress and extend beyond it. These tapes are made of fabric and extend all the way around the upper and lower margins of the side wall. The tape may be of any desired width, and the size of the mattress, the weight of the covering 'material, the type of binding and other factors may be taken into consideration in selecting a suitable width. By way of illustration, tape one inch wide-may be applied; three-quarters of an inch' may be in direct contact with the side wall and one-quarter inch projecting beyond the wall.

The tape is cemented to the rubber surface of the side wall withrany suitable adhesive which will make a iirm and durable bond between the tape and the rubber surface of the mattress."

The tape may have been previously -co'ated with.

cement to which gasoline or other solvent may be applied prior to attaching it, or the cement may be applied to the tape just prior to attaching it to the mattress.

The covering-material comprises a top portion I5 and a corresponding lower portion I6. These pieces are cut slightly larger than the correspending` surfaces of the mattress, providing margins I1 which may he secured to tapes I2 and I3. A side portion I8 is similarly provided with margins I9 at the top and bottom. A finishing strip or binding 20 is applied to these margins which are secured to the tape.

In Figure 2 a cross-section is shown of the invention as applied to an inn'er spring mattress. Rubber pads 2| and 22 are placed on each side of the springs 23, and the tape is applied to the pads inthe same manner as described in connection with Figure 1. The finishing strip 20 may be applied at the same time the margins Il and I9 are being stitched to tapes I2 and' I3. The stitches 3| pass through the edges of the finishing strip as well as the margins of the covering material and the tapes.

Where it is desirable to have a greater area of the mattress covered by tape and thereby have a more positive anchorage of the covering material to the rubber mattress, the tape may be applied to the edges of the top and bottom as well as the side wall of the mattress. In order to provide a single projecting portion of tape towhich the cover may be secured, two pieces of tape may be sewn together as shown in Figure 5.

To a relatively wide strip of tape 24, a narrower strip 25 is sewn, as shown at 26. For example, the wide tape made be four inches and Vthe narrower one inch. They may be sewn in such a manner that the one inch tape lies flat on the four inch strip; in this position an adhesive may be applied to the top surfaces of both tapes, or if the tapes have been previously coated withcement, they will be sewn together with the cement side up. In Figure 3 the tapes are shown as cemented to the top and side of a rubber mattress. -Flgure 3 shows the finishing and the resulting seam may be used as a guide line which facilitates the alignment of the tape attaching strip of corner form interposed be- -tween thebody'and coverandhaving atitscoron the mattress. Also where the strips are sewn together in this manner, they may be rolled. up

at, thereby simplifying the handling and ,appl'il cation of the tape.

'Ihe modication shown in Figures 4 and 'I is similartothatshowninFigure 3,intha .tthe tape is applied to adjacent surfaces of the rubber mattress. In this instance a single strip of tape has an adhesive applied to one surface and is folded downv the center. The central portions.

y adhere together, forming a unitary projecting portion 21 to which the cover may be secured, and two marginal portions 28 and 29 which may be cemented to the edges of the top and side of a rubber mattress, as previously described.

This invention of course may be applied to only one edge of the mattress instead o f both the top and bottom edges as described, and similarly the tape may be applied to portions of the edge instead of encircling the entire mattress.

While the term mattress has been used in describing this invention, it is to be understood that cushions and other upholstered articles are included in this expression.

In covering these mattresses after the tape has been applied, it is desirable to slightly com-- press the mattress transversely and longiimdinally while stitching the cover to the'tape; consequently when the compression is released the cover is under slight tension, which tends to keep it smooth and free from Wrinkles.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact embodiments shown which are merely by way of illustration, and other forms of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mattress or thelike of the class described comprising a body of rubber or the like in a cover of :flexible material, said body being formed with a corner nested in a, corner of the cover, and an .ner an extension to which the cover is secured andsaid strip having portions thereof at opposite sides of its comer adhesively secured to exterior faces of the body.

2. A mattress or the like of the class described comprising a body of rubber or the like in a cover of flexible material, said body being formed with a corner nested in a corner of the cover, and

attaching means interposed between the bodyand cover at the corners thereof and comprising two strips of fabric joined together approximately along thecorner ofthe body and 'adhef sively secured respectively to exterior faces of the 4body at the opposite sides ,of ifs corner, one of said fabric strips being extended outwardly from the corner of the body and secured to the cover.

3. Inamattressorthelike, abodyofspong'y rubber material or the like, 'a cover attaching 'strip adhesively secured to an exterior surface of said body along the margins thereof, said strip having a portion extending beyondthe said margins', and a cover over said body and secured to said'extended portion of said strip.

4. Inamattressorthelike,abodyofspongy rubber material or the like, cover attaching means secured to an exterior surface of said body along the margins thereof, said means including flaps extendingbeyond said and a cover over said body and comprising panels of ilexible material covering the respective fac of said body, said panels being secured at their margins to said naps.

5. Inamattressorthelike,abodyofspongy rubber material or the like, cover attaching strips adhesively secured to an exterior surface of said body along the thereof, said strips having a portion extending beyond the said margins, and a cover over said body and comprising panels of flexible material covering the respective faces of said body, said panels being secured 'at their margins to said extended portion of said strips.

6. In a mattress or the like, a body of spongy rubber material or the like, cover attaching strips adhesively secured to an exterior surface of said body along the margins thereof, said strips having a portion extending beyond the said margins, a cover over said body and comprising panelsA of flexible material covering the respective faces of said body, said panels being secured at `their margins to said extended portion of said strips,

and a finishing strip secured over said extended DISCLAIMER 2,326,441.-Maron Morgan Gunningham, South Bend, Ind. MATTRESS CovERrNG. A Patent dated August 10, 1943. Disclaimer filed March 16, 1944, by the assignee, Mshawaka Rubber (f: WoolenrManufaduring Company. v -Hereby enters this disclaimer toA claims 3, 4, 5,4 and 6 of said patent.

[Qjial Gouin April 18, 1.944.] 

